Sheraton New Orleans Hotel and W Hotels of New Orleans Step Up As Major Sponsors

Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band

New Orleans, LA (March 8, 2006)—Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band will make their first-ever Jazz Fest appearance on Sunday, April 30, Festival organizers announced today. Springsteen and the new band will release a new album next month featuring songs associated with the legendary guiding light of American music, Pete Seeger, and their Jazz Fest debut will feature most of the musicians who worked on the recording. The 2006 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is set for April 28-30 and May 5-7.

"We're honored to present Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band for the first time at Jazz Fest," said Quint Davis, producer/director of the event. "That one of America's most vital artists and most powerful live entertainers and his new band are coming to share this very special Jazz Fest with us, and be a part of revitalizing New Orleans, should be heartening for all New Orleanians. When Bruce and the Seeger Sessions band take the stage at the Festival it will be a moment to remember."

The complete day-by-day music lineup, also announced today, is available now at www.nojazzfest.com (also attached).

The Festival continues to garner important corporate support as the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel—the event's longtime official hotel—the W New Orleans Hotel and The W French Quarter Hotel are teaming up to become a major sponsor for the 2006 Festival.

Tommy Morel, Area Director of Sales & Marketing, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, said, "We have been with the Jazz Fest in the good years and, along with three of our hotels, we are re-confirming our commitment to the city and making sure that everyone knows that we plan on being here for years to come. In our opinion there will never be a more critical moment... a more comprehensive reason... a more significant cause that is as culturally connected to the community, and uniquely New Orleans, as Jazz Fest."

The Festival's signature Louisiana Heritage Fair, held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each of its six days, with artists appearing on multiple stages at the same time. The Heritage Fair also features a famous Food Fair with over 100 varieties of irresistible Louisiana and international foods, as well as three important crafts fairs.

Tickets for Jazz Fest are on sale now at www.nojazzfest.com and www.ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (800) 488-5252 (outside Louisiana) and (504) 522-5555 (New Orleans). Tickets can be purchased in person at the Jazz Fest ticket office located at New Orleans Arena, 1501 Girod Street. Tickets to Jazz Fest are on sale by specific weekend, with each ticket valid for a single day's attendance. Prices are $30 in advance, $40 at the gate. Children's tickets (under age 12) are only $5 in advance or at the gate. Jazz Fest's popular Big Chief VIP Experience also returns with full weekend passes and VIP amenities available for only $500 per weekend, $600 with parking. Additional ticket and VIP information is available at www.nojazzfest.com.

Gray Line Tours/Hotard Destination Services will operate continuous round-trip transportation—the Jazz Fest Express—from the Sheraton Hotel, the Gray Line Lighthouse at the Steamboat Natchez Wharf (Toulouse St. at the River – next to Jax Brewery), and Marconi Meadows (City Park) daily from 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. A special entrance will be used only by Jazz Fest Express vehicles to avoid traffic and bring Festival-goers inside the gates of the Festival. Add $15 ($12 City Park) to the price of a Festival admission ticket for this round-trip transportation service. Admission and Jazz Fest Express tickets are available for sale on the days of the Festival from these locations or in advance through Ticketmaster. For more information, call 504-569-1401 or 1-800-535-7786. Gray Line is the official operator of the Jazz Fest Express.

For visitor information, log on to www.NewOrleansOnline.com: The Official Tourism Site of New Orleans.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. is the non-profit institution that oversees the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation uses proceeds from the Festival to develop and support special projects designed to preserve and perpetuate the area’s rich music and cultural heritage. For information on the Foundation and its programs, visit nojhf.org or call (504) 522-4786.

Comments

About a year ago, Aaron was hit hard by his childhood asthma. He is under strict doctor's orders not to return to the city since Katrina and he hasn't. That's also the reason he struggled through the anthem in the Super Bowl. The Fatman hisself will close out da' Fest and it don't get no better than dat.